Continuing its focus on sustainability and the zero carbon agenda, NHBC’s independent research institution – the NHBC Foundation – has launched its latest suite of research supporting the industry in meeting the enormous challenges of legislative and regulatory change.

The research incorporates three important initiatives, tackling a range of the technical challenges facing the industry, and includes:

• “Climate Change and Innovation in House-building” – addressing risk management challenges from climate change.
• “Ground Source Heat Pumps” – looking at how to use these systems successfully.
• “Risks in Domestic Basement Construction” – discussing the specific issues raised by their construction.

Chair of the NHBC Foundation, Rt. Hon. Nick Raynsford MP, said: “Our research continues to provide the industry with much needed technical support and addresses critical issues where there is the greatest need for evidence-based findings.”

The NHBC Foundation is also undertaking further research focusing on microgeneration and renewable energy systems.  This research, due in November 2007, will outline the different types of technology currently available, detailing issues they present and their carbon saving benefits.

The NHBC Foundation has also commissioned a major survey of attitudes and understanding among consumers and builders on sustainability and zero carbon issues.  This significant undertaking will ensure consumers are engaged in the zero carbon debate.

Incorporating interviews with a large sample of consumers and more than 100 builders across the UK the research project is the largest in the industry specifically to address zero carbon and sustainability issues.  The findings of this research are due early in 2008.

Copies of all NHBC Foundation research documents are available to download as PDF files at http://www.nhbcfoundation.org/Projects/tabid/54/Default.aspx.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The NHBC Foundation was established by NHBC in partnership with the BRE Trust to facilitate research and development, technology and knowledge sharing, and the capture of industry best practice in the pursuit of improved building standards for the new-build housing sector.

A summary of the latest suite of research from the NHBC Foundation is detailed below:

• Climate Change and Innovation in House-building - Climate change and the zero carbon agenda are inextricably linked and it is important that the potential impacts of climate change are understood to enable lenders, builders and developers to improve their risk management strategies.  The Foundation’s “Climate change and innovation in house-building”, research details how climate change presents challenges for managing risk profiles.  Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC Chief Executive, said: “Many of the perceived risk issues can be readily addressed at design stage and this guide brings this into sharp relief, allowing greater confidence for lenders and insurers in understanding how risks can be minimised.”
• Ground Source Heat Pumps - The use of ground source heat pumps has proliferated in recent years across the continent, primarily in Scandinavian countries.  Latterly builders and developers looking to gear up to the 2016 zero carbon target have been considering these to reduce energy consumption in heating homes, one of the largest components of the zero carbon equation.  Ground source energy is not truly zero carbon as it needs a power source to run, but can offer substantial benefits if a renewable energy source is used.  With detailing on cost benefits, analysis on construction practices, reliability, maintenance and interfaces with other systems the research makes important strides in addressing the use of ground source energy.
• Risks in Domestic Basement Construction - With the Government targets on housing supply and planning targets on density becoming ever more challenging, alongside a growing demand from consumers for family housing, the use of basements is being increasingly considered as an option by builders and developers.  The construction of basements has inherent risks relating to water ingress and load-bearing capacity, and the basement construction guide is intended to clarify risk management issues in the construction process.  Primarily basements requires greater thought and detailing at the site survey and design stages to ensure risks are addressed and designed or managed out.  Soil and site conditions are key contributory factors for potential failure and therefore the importance of geotechnical data cannot be underestimated.

The NHBC Foundation’s research programme for 2007/08 will cover the following topics:

• “A Review of Microgeneration and Renewable Energy Technologies” - The work has focused on how these technologies will work in and impact on homes and considers the energy implications of building design, fabric and services systems.  It will outline the different types of technology currently available, detailing issues they present and their carbon saving benefits.
• Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) - In line with legislative changes which came into force in 2007, the Foundation is developing a checklist and toolbox on SWMPs for builders, providing important guidance on how to implement an effective site waste management plan.  With the Code for Sustainable Homes targeting waste as a mandatory aspect this research will lay out a framework for builders and developers to address the relevant issues
• Drainage Provision for Sustainable Development - A project is currently underway to address improvements in drainage provision for sustainable developments.  As well as looking at simple design and construction guidance for soakaways and the feasibility of providing drainage and ground treatment for building the project will also examine the provision of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) for small developments.

NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK.  It was established more than 70 years ago as a non profit distributing company.  NHBC's primary purpose is to help raise standards in the new house-building industry and provide consumer protection for new house buyers.  NHBC's ten-year 'Buildmark' warranty covers more than 80 % of homes built in the UK and has protected more than 6 million homes to date.

The BRE Trust is a charity for research and education in the built environment.  Its chief goal is to ensure earnings from the companies it owns deliver against its charitable education and research mission.  BRE is one of the companies owned by The BRE Trust and it is commissioned to undertake projects by both public and private organisations.